Hollywood actor Josh Duhamel, best known for his roles in the Transformers film series and the TV show Las Vegas, has taken on a very different project from the sets of Hollywood. He has been working for years on what he half-jokingly calls his “doomsday cabin,” an off-grid retreat tucked away in rural Minnesota.
For Duhamel, who grew up in North Dakota, the cabin is less about preparing for the end of the world and more about reconnecting with a simpler way of life. He wants to practice real survival skills, step back from technology, and create a place where his family can escape the constant pace of modern living.
Key takeaways
- Josh Duhamel is building an off-grid cabin in Minnesota, which he calls his “doomsday cabin.”
- He is learning survival skills such as hunting and fishing to live more self-sufficiently.
- The goal is to have a simpler life away from Hollywood and technology.
- The cabin is a retreat for his family to spend time outdoors and connect with nature.
- Duhamel estimates he is about 70 percent prepared in case of a major disaster.
At 52, Duhamel has been developing this property for more than 15 years. It began with a half-parcel of land about an hour and a half from Fargo, North Dakota. When he first bought it, there was nothing modern on the property. No running water, no electricity, and certainly none of the usual comforts. Since then, he has expanded the land and built two cabins. Even with those improvements, his main purpose has stayed the same, which is learning to live independently from the systems most people take for granted.
He explained in a recent interview that he felt a kind of calling to work with his hands. For him, the cabin is a place where he can fix things, make things, and focus on essentials such as food, water, and heat. He also admits that part of the drive comes from a concern about what might happen if the systems people depend on were to suddenly fail.
The “doomsday” name may sound dramatic, but Duhamel is quick to point out that he is not a hardcore survivalist. He says he is about 70 percent prepared but also admits he still has work to do, especially with hunting and fishing. To help prepare, he has planted food plots to attract deer and plans to grow crops like corn and pumpkins. Several wells now ensure a reliable water supply for the land.
The cabin is also very much about family. Duhamel spends time there with his wife, Audra Mari, their son Shepherd, and his older son Axl, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Fergie. Out at the cabin, his children can play in the dirt, catch frogs, and explore nature in a way that is completely different from life in Los Angeles. He believes that kind of hands-on experience is good for them.
What started as a project rooted in survival has grown into something more. The cabin offers his family a safe retreat, a slower way of living, and a reminder that sometimes getting back to basics is not just practical, it can be fulfilling in its own right.
FAQs
Q. What is a ‘doomsday cabin’?
A. A “doomsday cabin” is a term used for a remote, off-grid property that is prepared for a major disaster or collapse of modern society. These cabins are often designed to be self-sufficient, with resources like wells, food supplies, and alternative power sources.
Q. Where is Josh Duhamel’s off-grid cabin located?
A. Josh Duhamel’s off-grid cabin is located in a remote, wooded area of Minnesota, about an hour and a half drive from Fargo, North Dakota.
Q. Why did Josh Duhamel build the cabin?
A. Josh Duhamel built the cabin to get back to basics, learn survival skills, and create a retreat for his family away from the stress and technology of Hollywood life.
Q. Is Josh Duhamel a survivalist?
A. Duhamel does not consider himself a full survivalist. He says he is learning and developing skills, but the main reason for the cabin is to have a simple place for his family.
